Thoughts from a Teacher about Literacy and more

Today I attended my first ever Ed Camp at #EdCampOAISD. What a cool concept. I loved having the opportunity to meet with fellow educators and learn.

I attended a session on math workshop that really has me thinking how I can improve the 30 minutes that I have with my learners. I want so badly to make the most out of the short amount of time I have with them and to differentiate as much as possible. I’m hoping that the info I learned today, along with meeting with my math coach on Friday, will help me hone in on determining pacing that will work best for me and my learners.

I also attended some good sessions on assessment and technology. I’m especially looking forward to looking at some books about formative assessment to continue to improve my assessment skills.

Ed Camp wasn’t quite what I expected, but part of that is lack of experience. Next month I will be going to another Ed Camp, but this one is focused around literacy. Really looking forward to that one and hoping it will provide me with some great ideas and resources that I can immediately apply in my classroom.

I’m also looking forward to more opportunities to network. Networking is not something I’m good at nor comfortable with, but I like opportunities where I have to step outside of my comfort zone. Going on my own and having to interact with new faces is a good challenge for me and will inevitably result in better interpersonal skills. Plus, if I want my students to be trying new and uncomfortable things, I better be modeling it myself!

Last night I heard Susan Cain speak about introverts and her book “Quiet.” It was quite interesting.

Her basic ideas were that we need to change how we interact with others and to honor the knowledge that introverts have.

The big idea that struck me was that we often we listen to the loudest voice, even if its not correct or the best idea. This fits many situations I’m in to a T. I’m often in situations where I am sharing ideas but my ideas are not recognized because I’m quiet. It was refreshing to hear her, if only because it validates what I experience. Just this week I decided to email some colleagues instead of go and talk with them. My idea was well received. I’m not sure it would have been if I’d brought it up in a meeting.

Cain was great at honoring the creativity and thoughtfulness that many introverts possess. It was nice to hear that we really have something to offer- I know we do, but it’s nice to be reaffirmed.

Lastly, Cain talked about other differences between introverts and extroverts. She said the greatest difference is the persons response to stimulus. Introverts tend to be more sensitive to outside stimulus. She recommends that we look at classroom and work environments to allow for spaces that are less stimulating. This will help introverts recharge.

I love jelly beans for Easter. They’re so colorful and I love the various flavors. All but black- yuck! I can’t stand the licorice flavor. jelly beans are so great because you get that boost of sugar without having to eat too many. That said, it so easy to over-do it. I need to make sure I don’t eat too many, or later I’ll be dealing with a sugar crash.

What makes me laugh is that even as an adult, I have my go-to candy for the holidays.

In general I appreciate that people think differently. It makes us unique and it makes life more interesting.

Today, however, I do not appreciate that people think differently. For the past few weeks I’ve been working on a grad. class assignment, compiling different instructional resources. My resources need to be research base. I’ve found most of my sources, but I have been stumped finding decoding strategies.

After searching for a while, I asked my professor what other key words I could use, since decoding was getting me nowhere. She suggested “word reading.” This proved to be helpful, but I’m again stumped. I have found some great strategies, without research base. I’m sure there must be research somewhere, but how do I find it. As I was looking, one sight categorized the strategies as “word attack” strategies.

So now, I’m searching using decoding, word reading and word attack. Apparently these aren’t the only key words I should use since I still haven’t found what I need.

If everyone thought the same, then I would have found everything I needed nicely listed under decoding. Is it possible, maybe just for the week, that everyone can think like me so I can find my resources? =) Then we can go back to thinking differently!